Summary Method Engineering for Exam ②
➤ Lecture Overview Method Engineering Research
Method engineering = the engineering discipline to design, construct and adapt methods,
techniques and tools for the development of information systems.
Situational method = an information systems development method tuned to the situation of the
project at hand
Memorize this picture!
Important: situational method engineering is best done with meta-modelling techniques
because a meaningful representation is necessary and this can be provided by meta-modelling
through the process and concepts in meta-models. Moreover, meta-models can be split into
method fragments, which can be combined later.
Situational method engineering
Advantages Disadvantages
Simpler, contains no superfluous entities at is It is hard to predetermine the situational
, tuned to the project at hand. requirements of the project at hand, leading
to incorrect selection of method fragments.
Provides specific deliverables instead of Situational methods are brand new and there
generic deliverables. is no existing documentation and experience.
Less semantic disprepancy = difference
between implementation deliverables and
description of model
Method configuration = adapt a particular method to various situated factors
Incremental method engineering = how methods evolve over time and how this is supported
Why constructing methods?
● Satisfy situational requirements
● Add alternative ways-of-working
● Extend
Assembly-based process model for situational method engineering (Ralyté, Deneckère &
Rolland, 2003)
1. Specify method requirements
2. Select method fragments
3. Assemble method fragments
Extended by Van de Weerd et al (2006):
1. Analyze implementation situation and identify needs
2. Select candidate methods that meet the needs
3. Analyze candidate methods and store relevant method fragments
4. Assemble a new method from useful method fragments
➤ Lecture Overview Method Engineering Research
Method engineering = the engineering discipline to design, construct and adapt methods,
techniques and tools for the development of information systems.
Situational method = an information systems development method tuned to the situation of the
project at hand
Memorize this picture!
Important: situational method engineering is best done with meta-modelling techniques
because a meaningful representation is necessary and this can be provided by meta-modelling
through the process and concepts in meta-models. Moreover, meta-models can be split into
method fragments, which can be combined later.
Situational method engineering
Advantages Disadvantages
Simpler, contains no superfluous entities at is It is hard to predetermine the situational
, tuned to the project at hand. requirements of the project at hand, leading
to incorrect selection of method fragments.
Provides specific deliverables instead of Situational methods are brand new and there
generic deliverables. is no existing documentation and experience.
Less semantic disprepancy = difference
between implementation deliverables and
description of model
Method configuration = adapt a particular method to various situated factors
Incremental method engineering = how methods evolve over time and how this is supported
Why constructing methods?
● Satisfy situational requirements
● Add alternative ways-of-working
● Extend
Assembly-based process model for situational method engineering (Ralyté, Deneckère &
Rolland, 2003)
1. Specify method requirements
2. Select method fragments
3. Assemble method fragments
Extended by Van de Weerd et al (2006):
1. Analyze implementation situation and identify needs
2. Select candidate methods that meet the needs
3. Analyze candidate methods and store relevant method fragments
4. Assemble a new method from useful method fragments
